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Youtube “Meschiya Lake and the Little Big Horns” and you’re likely to find a video featuring an intriguing and somewhat retro Lindy Hop band playing on some street corner of New Orleans. There is one great video where an old man in the background stands, arms-crossed, reluctantly listening to the band. Perhaps he is waiting for a friend or on his lunch break. But as the video goes on, his foot begins to tap to the beat and a rhythmic movement of his head reveals the incessant, catchy, beguiling nature of this band.

I felt much the same way as this old man as I made my way to Norwich Arts Centre on a very wet, very cold January night. Reluctant and a bit miserable, I entered the packed and sweltering venue and was quickly sucked into the mischievous and infectious atmosphere, forgetting my previous woes.

Meschiya Lake (pronounced Ma-shee-ya,) the female vocalist, was named Best Female Performer of The Year in the 2011 Big Easy Music Awards, staged annually in New Orleans. And rightly so. She is a charismatic performer. Her style reminded me of Amy Winehouse’s dominating presence, pulling her skirt cheekily up her thighs as she feels the notes she sings. Particularly in their record Lucky Devil, her voice was demonstrated with all its power, reminiscent of a husky K T Tunstal with more soul. The band behind her are the “Little Big Horns.” And what an appropriate name. One of the men carried the most enormous horn I’ve ever seen over his shoulder producing bellowing beautiful sounds. The littler horns included a trombone and a trumpet, together creating a cacophony of brass-led goodness. Further accompaniment came in the form of two of America’s Lindy Hop dance stars who leapt around the stage on lightning quick toes. All in all, not the usual line-up you’d expect on a dreary Norwich night.

The rapidly growing swing dance revival brought an eclectic variety of people to the audience. I’ve never seen such a mixture of mid-twenties hipsters all the way through to 70 year old married couples. It is easy to see why such a mix is possible. This is music straight from America that is all about joy and celebration of life. The floor beneath me bounced with the energy of shaking hips and stomping feet. The swing dancers on stage began to tap dance, replacing the rhythm of the drum with the beat of their feet. Meschiya’s voice swung and dropped with an expert ease, singing of strippers, the love of music and “jazz cigarettes.” At no point did I feel that this band were performing, they were simply enjoying themselves.

Listening to this band not only lets you forget your blues, they will simultaneously teach you the Shim Sham shimmy and hit you with an astonishing trumpet solo. Completely lovable and a worthwhile trip to The Big Easy.